After almost a year of development, a new version 2.5 of the free Nexuiz open source action game has come out. What awaits users are some updated graphics and numerous fan-developed game levels.

Not much of the game's humble beginnings remain: the first version of Nexuiz, based on the DarkPlaces engine (a modified Quake engine), first appeared 2005. Beside being in a single player version, Nexuiz is primarily an Internet game.

Nexuiz 2.5 includes some new weapons and particle effects, a race game mode, new maps and improved network code. Nexuiz claims that a reworked client-server communication will cut bandwidth usage in half. In race game mode players have to complete a level from start to finish as quickly as possible. Even the bots are smarter, use teamwork, can swim and do bunny-hopping.

The recompiled maps have crisper shadowing, providing more realistic effects. Together with the game, developers also included the NetRadiant map editor to inspire gamers to create their own maps. Finally, the head-up display (HUD) was completely redone.

The release notes include full details. The Alientrap team is also currently looking for new developers. Game download is available for the more than 600-MBytedata.

So unreal the name, so real the news: Epic Games is providing its Unreal Engine 3 free to developers. It isn't open source, but game developers can implement it for noncommercial games and applications.